Chris Turner

Chrissy is a certified health insurance agent and works as an independent contractor. While on a business trip, she was drugged and raped. Not fully understanding what had occurred because of the effects of the drugs, she returned home and immediately sought medical care from her personal physician as well as individual therapy. As she progressed through the journey of healing she began reaching out to others by becoming a volunteer with the Nurse Examiner Program (NEP) through The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay. The NEP provides a safe place for rape victims to go for the sexual assault forensic exam, in lieu of going to a hospital emergency room. As a volunteer, Chrissy provides crisis-counseling services to rape victims, their families and friends. Once the forensic exam is completed, she lends emotional support, provides them with clean clothes and makes arrangements for long-term counseling.

In 2007 she joined the speaker’s bureau of Speaking Out About Rape, Inc.® (SOAR®). SOAR runs national awareness, education, and prevention programs to empower survivors of sexual violence and enhance the public’s understanding and acceptance of rape victims. As a member of TEAM SOAR® Chrissy shares her personal story of rape, healing, and hope. She has two goals: first, to be an inspiration for victims by showing them that personal happiness is possible after rape; and second, to motivate professionals working with victims to be the best they can because their work does indeed make a difference.

Chrissy was named The United Way’s Tampa Bay Volunteer of the Year for Human Services in 2008 and in 2009 was recognized and honored as 1 in 5 of Tampa Bay’s Local Hero’s by Verizon Yellow Pages of Tampa for her work at The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay.

Drugged, Raped and Denied Insurance

After being drugged and raped on a business trip, I received counseling and anti-HIV medications to help me survive. But to insurance companies my rape and treatment were "pre-existing conditions."